6 things you need to know about tattoo removal

An ex-partners name? A drunken mistake after too many shots? While many people love their tattoos for years to come, a small few regret getting inked. In fact, The Harris Poll report that 1 in 4 regret getting a tattoo. They cite the top reasons as:

These reasons are something that that Harley Street aesthetic doctor, Dr David Jack, recognises:

"Most of my clients having tattoo removal choose to remove them as their lifestyles no longer are compatible with having tattoos in visible areas of their body or if they regret having tattoos that they associate with a different period of their lives."

If you're regretting your tattoo enough for you to consider tattoo removal Dr Jack has given us the lowdown on getting something removed. Spoiler: It might not hurt as much as you think…

1. Your tattoo could be removed as quickly as 4 sessions

Depending on what clinic you attend (see point 6) your tattoo could be removed as quickly as four sessions. "It depends on the type of tattoo removal device being used," explains Dr Jack. "Older styles of device would require anything up to 20 sessions to remove any sort of tattoo, newer machines such as the PicoSure laser can remove some tattoos in just four sessions. I personally use Plexr to remove tattoos, which has the benefit of removing all colours effectively within a relatively small number of sessions."

2. Size doesn't matter…

…When it comes to how long it might take. The amount of sessions it takes to remove a small tattoo could be the same as something larger. "It has more to do with the depth of the ink and quality of the original tattoo," says Dr Jack. He adds that sometimes larger tattoos take up to an hour per session, though.

3. It's not as painful as you probably think it is

Tempted to avoid tattoo removal because you think it's painful? You might want to think again. "The feeling is often likened to that of an elastic band being flicked against the skin," explains Dr Jack. "Cooling and other distraction techniques can often improve this sensation."

4. You might experience some hyperpigmentation

What the skin looks like after the removal depends on the method used to remove the tattoo. Dr Jack says:

"Occasionally there can be some redness or blistering initially, which is usually temporary. In the medium term there can be pigment changes, such as hypopigmentation or hyperpigmentation. There may be some residual marks left after the tattoo ink is fully removed, including pigment changes or mild scarring."

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5. You should think long and hard before opting for removal

Often tattoo removal is a long process, with the results often taking many sessions to notice any significant changes, and the final appearance not being 100% back to normal skin. Dr Jack explains that if patients are realistic about this then they are less likely to be disappointed. It is important also to consider the interim effects and risks of any treatments, as well as the cost and timescale.

6. Always, always opt for a reputable clinic

For obvious reasons do some research before you head to get your tattoo removed. "Anyone performing tattoo removal should be at least NVQ level 3 trained, and trained on the specific tattoo removal device," says Dr Jack. "Plexr should only ever be performed by GMC registered doctors. Many poor quality tattoo removal devices are used by cheap tattoo removal clinics, so it is important to ensure that the clinic you are going to uses a high quality device to optimise the result you get and reduce the risk of complications. For lasers, CynoSure leads the market with the PicoSure laser."

Always avoid clinics offering extremely low prices (tattoo removal devices are generally very expensive) and take note of hygiene practices - these could both be warning signs that you should look elsewhere. Untrained staff, or practitioners who appear unknowledgeable should also be considered a red flag. "In addition, there are standard safety procedures for use of lasers, such as use of eye protection for both practitioner and patient, so if any of these are not in place I would suggest looking elsewhere," adds Dr Jack.

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